Livebait (Waterloo)

The food here is actually quite good. I had the red thai fish curry which included seafood as well as fish fillets. It was nice and spicy and the food was definitely fresh. My friend enjoyed her calamari so it's not all bad.

Livebait disappoints because of overpricing and average service.

*Soft drinks were not included in the menu and I was surprised to see a charge of £3.50 for a medium sized glass of tomato juice, which I would not have ordered it if I had it had been on the menu.

*Over £14 for my curry, for a very small portion of both curry and rice.

*The offer of bread as you sit down which is actually charged if you take it.

I would have been happy with the slow, average service if Livebait was a cheap and cheerful restaurant. It is not and as the bill is high the service charge so too is high, due to the hideous UK practice of a 'discretionary' service charge of 12.5% added as an item to your bill (how many of us dutifully pay this even if we're not happy with the service).

It's the kind of place you will try once due to curiosity, or because Tas or the Anchor & Hope are full.
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 1
Thursday, July 27, 2006

I visited this restaurant as I am a big fan of seafood, and had eaten at the Livebait in Convent Garden so thought I would give it a go. It was a very quiet afternoon and there was only one other table in the restaurant, but I still struggled to get the waiters attention. When my main course did arrive, I couldnt believe the small size of the portion. I cant believe the audacity to charge the prices they do when i would have been annoyed if this was the size of a starter! Never mind a main course.....think I will stick with the Livebait in Convent Garden from now on
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Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Went there last night for the first time and have to agree with the negative reviews. Service was really bad, our waiter didn't speak much English and couldn't tell us what was their seasonal vegetables!!!

We waited about 45 minutes for the main course, and got offered bread about three times in between (they charge it £1pp!).

Food was allright, but there was very little of it on the plate...

Overall I wouldn't say it was unpleasant experience, but for the price and the reputation it holds, it failed to impress.
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Alexandra
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2
Friday, June 02, 2006

very disapointing.

we waited 50 minutes in this resteraunt for our main courses to arrive, when they did arrive the two dishes that had been ordered the same (Monkfish with puy lentils) had wildly differing portions and one was dried and over cooked. My colleague had a half lobster on which the lateness of our order was blamed, this was also overcooked.

The service was awful and once we complained the waiter said not to have a go at him and got the manager. The manager seemed quite frankly on the edge of a nervous breakdown and pleaded with her to show some sympathy for her plight as there were "many people complaining"

After we were offered a fair discount for our meal, the waiter presented the bill with a curt "there are you happy now"

This is the first and last time i will visit these overpriced fish and chip shops.
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alovett - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 1
Friday, May 26, 2006

We went on friday to try this restaurant close to Waterloo station. The service was efficient and pleasant. We tried different specialities. Honestly, it's not the most wonderful fish restaurant I've ever been, but the shellfishs were excellent (try the oysters), and the main courses were very good.... We were more desapointed by the noise and the airstreams...
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Pierre
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 6
Monday, May 08, 2006

I visited this restaurant recently and was very disappointed. My girlfriend is a big fan of seafood and so I thought that this would be a good bet. The service was indifferent although I have experienced worse to be fair, however when the food arrived I could not believe the paltry portion served up, the prices are not cheap and we had expected a far better meal than we were presented with. It was very poor value for money and while it was the first time I had eaten in the Livebait chain, it will also be the last. The Lobster Pot down in Elephant and Castle, while more expensive was exceptional in comparison.
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Roger
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Monday, May 08, 2006

Most dissappointed with the food and service. I had the Sea bass with noodles, most of the noodles were clumped together and I nearly broke my tooth on something which felt like a stone. My friend had the tiger prawns for main and when he dissected it's body something like a chicken kidney fell out. As for the waitress she was absolutely miserable. When the bill arrived we were charged a service charge of £9 and a cover charge of £2. It brought our bill up to £85 (This inc. starters, main,desert & wine)Needless to say it was the first time and last time I would be visiting Livebait.
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Sonya
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2
Sunday, April 16, 2006

Hmmm...oysters! Good stuff..keep it up!
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Helen Peters
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, April 03, 2006

I go for lunch here regularly and I love it! They have a great lunch menu which for under a tenner you can have a good nosh up, plus a glass of wine or beer! I usually have the moules frites but you can have fish and chips or they do a fab fishcake. Desserts are yummy too if you can fit one in! Its great for a quick lunch.
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Jonny Chang
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10
Monday, April 03, 2006

I disagree with any negative comments about Livebait on The Cut. We went last night and it was great! The nice man on the door found us a nice booth in one of the three rooms and what followed was a lovely fish dinner in a buzzy atmosphere. I had the sea bass with noodles which was gorgeous and my partner had the swordfish fajita which looked delicious too. Followed by sticky toffee pud...what more can you ask for?
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Anna Collins
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Monday, April 03, 2006